Ascot Forum
Second Generation Ascots => The V-Twin Years: Stock To Lightly Modified => Topic started by: scott s on June 03, 2017, 05:22:44 pm
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I made an introduction thread on the FT side.
http://ascot500.com/index.php?topic=789.0
I've known for years that a friend picked up an Ascot. I've not seen it on person and she really knows nothing about motorcycles. She once had a pipe dream about riding and bought this bike. Any time we talked about it, I was under the impression that it was the single.
Today, she finally got around to taking some pics for me. SURPRISE!! It's a VT500!
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z189/uberkafer/VT500-2_zpsw7lodfgl.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/uberkafer/media/VT500-2_zpsw7lodfgl.jpg.html)
She said it needs a caliper because the P.O. told her. That could mean anything from a complete brake overhaul to just a minor rebuild. All stuff I've done plenty of times and am comfortable with. Are the calipers and rebuild parts readily available for this bike?
I don't know how many miles are on it yet. The tank looks like it could use a cleaning, but doesn't look rotten. I'm working on setting up an in person viewing.
Give me some pointers and any known weak points for this model that I should be aware of. I'm known to haul home complete basket cases, so working on them isn't a problem. But if there are model specific things to check, let me know.
It has a title, hasn't run in a few years, and I can get it for under a grand. Possibly way under. Any way to tell from the pics what year it is?
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These are the only other two pics she sent. If the tank is solid, I can clean it. No problem....done it plenty of times. I'll just assume the carbs need done. I have a great carb guy within walking distance of my house.
Then, normal stuff: fork oil, battery, plugs, engine oil and filter, etc.
And I'm sure the tires are toast, too.
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z189/uberkafer/VT500_zpsa6x8i2ep.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/uberkafer/media/VT500_zpsa6x8i2ep.jpg.html)
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z189/uberkafer/VT500-1_zpspudxfuqn.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/uberkafer/media/VT500-1_zpspudxfuqn.jpg.html)
It's possible I can even work out a package deal with this CB360. I don't want it....just sold two NICE CL350's, but I might be able to flip it.
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z189/uberkafer/CB360_zpsffyvtxpl.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/uberkafer/media/CB360_zpsffyvtxpl.jpg.html)
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The VT500FT Ascots were made in '83-'84.
Sometimes the fuel tank will rust through at the lowest point by the seat due to ethanol fuel & moisture. Replacement tanks are near impossible to find. The coils go bad after a while. Replacements are available through Honda & Rick's Motosports.
Usually they run well & are fairly maintenance free.
My first Ascot was a '84 Black VT. It was a great bike!
Good luck
J.
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It's looks like it's in really nice shape under that dust.
I'd use a POR kit to clean and coat the inside of the tank.
I wouldn't assume the carbs need to be rebuilt. I'd get some fuel flowing through them - i.e. ride it for a while - even if it's running a bit rough - before rebuilding carbs.
There's a vacuum actuated fuel shut off built into the fuel tap. I think they're pretty bulletproof but if you trouble getting fuel from the tank to the carbs - check the tap first.
Brakes are easy to rebuild - probably don't need anything but a complete disassemble, cleaning (particularly the seal groves - you can use a dreamel with wire wheel for that) and reassemble. If you do need new seals (I bet you won't) I think they're still available as the Ascot caliper was used on a bunch of other Honda bikes.
Check and adjust (if necessary) the valve clearance. Easy to do.
Hard to tell the year from the pictures as there was a black model one year and a very dark blue (which can look black) model the other year . The year will be on the steering neck ID plate/sticker.
It'll probably burn some oil as the valve seals from that vintage tend to get either hard or soft and leak a bit. Unfortunately you have to pull the motor to get at the seals (but it should be possible to do without removing the head) - but I wouldn't bother until the time you have to have the engine out of the frame for some other reason (which may be never :)) - just be mindful of when you need to add some oil.
If you don't buy it, let me know, I'm interested (depending on where it is).
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I thought they had hydraulic valve adjusters?
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No hydraulic valves. Cam followers with tappet screw adjuster.
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Ah....read this article. I guess it's wrong. I found a couple more that DON'T mention the hydraulic adjusters.
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-japanese-motorcycles/1984-honda-ascot-vt500
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Yes, the article is wrong. I just did my annual valve adjustment yesterday.
PS: Biggest pain in the ass ever: - when you take out the spark plugs under the rubber grommets (one of the two in each cylinder) make sure your spark plug socket has a good condition plug keeper in it - i.e. so the plug doesn't fall out of the socket when you pull it out. It happened to me yesterday - the rubber keeper in my socket wouldn't 'keep' - the plug fell out and it was a royal pain in the ass to get it out as it wedged itself sideways in the spark plug cavity under that rubber grommet.
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I just did a valve adjustment and carb R&R on an '85 VF500 Interceptor. It can't be as bad as that!
I had new rubber intake manifolds for the VF. Are the VT manifolds pretty good at being reusable a few times?
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I don't know about the VF500 as I've never worked on one. But on the VT500 motor, there's a big bulbous cavity under the spark plug rubber boot - enough of a cavity so that a spark plug can lay completely sideways in the cavity even though the opening to access the plus is only a bit larger that the spark plug socket.
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Heh....if you look closely, you can see the 8mm wrench I was using to adjust the valves on the Interceptor. I dropped it and it slipped and slid right down into that pocket in the swing arm. Took almost two hours to fish out. I thought I was going to have to remove the swing arm for a minute there.
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z189/uberkafer/VF500/wrench_zpscvgtiyqn.jpg) (http://s190.photobucket.com/user/uberkafer/media/VF500/wrench_zpscvgtiyqn.jpg.html)
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Ya, that doesn't look like fun :)